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| Ferndell and the Middle, AZ | |
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| | Ferndell and the Middle, AZ | | | |
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Ferndell and the Middle, AZ
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| Hiking | 3.10 Miles |
598 AEG |
| | Hiking | 3.10 Miles | 1 Hour 29 Mns | | 2.14 mph |
| 598 ft AEG | 2 Mns Break | | | |
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none
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| no partners | | Took a little road trip to Lower Pinal campground; I drove the Wee Beastie and my sister drove herself, her sweetheart, my sweetheart, and LE. I would stay overnight while everyone else would head back to the Valley.
After a tasty taco bar out of my camp kitchen, we chatted a bit and then decided to do a short hike. My sister is not a hiker (and has a bum foot), and my daughter is still mentally recovering from growing up the child of a hiker. So whatever hike there was to do it needed to be short and sweet. I figured going out Ferndell would fit the bill, and taking Middle back, and off we went.
I optimistically brought my water filter to collect water at Ferndell Spring. I was supposed to do a backpack up here the week prior with a couple friends, but had to back out. They said there was plenty of water there, but when I got there it was just mud, with nothing coming out of the pipe.
The climb on Ferndell almost caused a mutiny, but everyone made it in one piece. Ferndell trail had seen some recent maintenance so the tread was wide and clear, but all the deciduous plants were nekkid. Overall I think the trail is prettier in the summer and fall with everything leafed out.
We followed the road around to Middle, then took that back toward the camp. The road section had great views. Middle was in good shape for about the first half of it, then there were a couple very large downed trees to climb over. A bit adventurous for some on the crew, but nobody fell or died.
At the last road junction before Middle headed for Pineline, my sister announced that her foot was done. I contemplated just going to get her car, but she said if it wasn't too far she could keep going. I hadn't been on this section of Middle before; it enters a pretty badly burned area near the intersection with Pineline, and I was worried about encountering more deadfall. So I suggested we take the road back. The road was nice and shady and easy walking; Pineline in the afternoon would have been super hot and sunny, so no regrets.
Back at the cars, it was time for everyone to leave (except me). I bid everyone farewell and turned to consider my plans for the evening. I had been concerned that, given the heat wave, there would be a mob of people trying to escape to higher elevation, and I was prepared to move to a dispersed site or even backpack down Sixshooter. But there was only a handful of other campers and everyone was being quiet and considerate, so I stayed put. I hung out in the hammock before cooking up a camp dinner of salmon, baby broccoli, and orzo pilaf. I sat down with a spectacular sunset view.
Overall a fantastic day. |
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Ferndell Spring |
Dry |
Dry |
| | | Just a week prior some friends reported the spring was going strong, but today there was nothing coming out of the pipe and only mud on the ground. Sad. I was thirsty, too. | | | |
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